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A baby seal who swam all the way to Laval is Montreal’s latest unusual visitor

A baby seal who swam all the way to Laval is Montreal’s latest unusual visitor
Baby seal spotted in the St-Lawrence River / Paul Souders / Royalty-free / Getty Images

First the humpback whale, and now a bearded seal is in the Montreal area!

After a humpback whale captured the hearts of Montrealers, a bearded seal has been spotted roaming around the Bo-Bi-No marina in Laval.

Originally from the arctic, the marine mammal was first seen Tuesday in the water, poking his head up from time to time before eventually climbing on top of a floating dock where it apparently likes to take a nap.

Marie-Ève Mueller, editor-in-chief of Baleines en direct, told the Journal de Montreal that seal sightings in the St. Lawrence are not uncommon and happen every year, but usually, seals don’t swim this far to Laval.

“We see them every year in Trois-Rivières but in Montreal, not for this species,” said Muller from the province’s marine mammal research group (GREMM). “This is the first time.”

Officials say the seal should be able to find his way back home when it feels ready to leave.

“He needs space to get his strength back to swim back to his natural habitat,” she said. “He has a good swim ahead of him.”

They are asking people to stay away from the seal and have placed posters around the Bo-Bi-No marina, informing the public to remain at least 50 metres away from the animal.   

Photos and videos of the mamal have been sent to seal specialists at the University of Montreal's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the organization said in a statement. You can also find a few photos and videos online including right here on Facebook.

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